In the 12th - 14th centuries; Sufism ('Islamic mysticism') became extraordinarily popular across Egypt. Elites and non-elites; rulers and ruled; the wealthy and the poor; even Jews; all embraced a variety of Sufi ideas and practices. This book is the first systematic investigation of how and why this popularisation occurred. It surveys several Sufi groups; from different regions of Egypt; and details how each of them promulgated; performed; and popularised their specific Sufi doctrines and practices. This popularisation would have a profound impact on the Egyptian religious landscape and on the subsequent history of Islam more broadly.
#820515 in Books 2010-09-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .60 x 5.50l; .75 #File Name: 0745953069272 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. An Unfair and Subjective Analysis of William Wilberforce and His AssociatesBy isaacThe Clapham Sect: How Wilberforce’s Circle Transformed Britain is written by Stephen Tomkins; a modern writer with post-modernist; deconstructionist; and feminist leanings. He attempts to analysis the religious and political lives of William Wilberforce and his close-knit friends by selectively and uncharitably picking small quotations from their writings. It would be a mistake to say that Tomkins regarded William Wilberforce and his circle of associates as virtuous citizens who shaped Britain for good in spite of their achievement in abolishing slave trade in Britain. Tomkins thinks William Wilberforce; John and Henry Thornton; Hannah More; John Venn; James Steven and other Christian abolitionists in Britain had mixed motives that ran afoul of the faith they brought to the political battle fields of an empire that controlled the slave trade market in the West and which was also on a moral decline at that time. He is in doubt of Christian conversion which he reduces to some sort of psychological and utilitarian urge. Of William Wilberforce and evangelical conversion he says:"There is a theory that for some people in this period evangelical conversion was a way of dealing with the psychological burden of new wealth: money brought unaccustomed leisure time; which led to introspection; guilt at undeserved fortune; and a crisis of identity; all of which were expiated by seeing oneself as a sinner; accepting God’s forgiveness; and channeling that new fortune and position into doing good. It does fit the pattern of Wilberforce’s life rather well" [pg50].Tomkins analysis of the so-called Clapham sect should not be taken as a fair independent analysis by an objective writer; rather it should be treated as a critical; moralistic book that judges a group of Christian activists in the 18 and 19th century Britain with the various philosophical eyeglasses framework of the 21 century which themselves are not without disputation.Tomkins betrays his feelings; however sincere; and assumptions in his analysis of the Clapham Sect thusly:"The influence of the Clapham sect on Victorian Britain is hard to assess with any kind of accuracy or objectivity; but they do seem to have played a very significant part in the development of its morality; the ethos of Clapham became the spirit of the age. The earnestness and solemnity; the fevour and dogmatism; the puritanism and fastidiousness; the sense of duty and self-denial; the sexual propriety and sobriety; the philanthropy and charity; the domesticity; the Sabbath-keeping; the distrust of the theatre; the sense of a benevolent; God-given mission to the world: in all these areas; Clapham was out of key with the tone of eighteenth-century Britain; and anticipated the tone of Victorian Britain" [248].This book lacks any critical appraisal that can be taken seriously. Anyone interested in Wilberforce should read William Hague or Kevin Belmonte’s biography on Wilberforce or other writers; to say the least.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Laborious. But worth it.By Robert J. LemleyI suppose that; just as the Clapham effort to eliminate slavery was a long; hard battle; then so should be the story of that struggle. A lot of historical detail; perhaps not all relevant except in the understanding that this was a diverse collection of very real people united in a just cause.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. It helped me better understand why Christianity has influenced West Africa so muchBy Mrs. Beth A. LynchThrough this book I learned about the evangelical movement in England that lead up to abolition of slavery; expansion of education; and other reforms. It helped me better understand why Christianity has influenced West Africa so much. Being a fan of the movie Amazing Grace; I was delighted to learn more about the key people involved in the movement - Wesley; Fox; Newton; Wilberforce; and many others.
